Allardyce slams Andorra tactics

SAM Allardyce accused Andorra's part-timers of pursuing an "outrageous" witch-hunt against Wayne Rooney which could have led to the striker sustaining a serious injury during England's 3-0 win in Barcelona. The Bolton boss and one-time candidate for Steve McClaren's head coach role said he was stunned by both the tactics employed by the part-timers, and the lack of disciplinary action by Portuguese referee Bruno Paixao.

SAM Allardyce accused Andorra's part-timers of pursuing an "outrageous" witch-hunt against Wayne Rooney which could have led to the striker sustaining a serious injury during England's 3-0 win in Barcelona.

The Bolton boss and one-time candidate for Steve McClaren's head coach role said he was stunned by both the tactics employed by the part-timers, and the lack of disciplinary action by Portuguese referee Bruno Paixao.

Rooney, who picked up a booking which will earn him a one-game international ban, was replaced by Jermain Defoe just past the hour mark and Allardyce insisted: "Steve had to bring him off not for his own good, but for his own safety.

"I thought the tactics used by Andorra were totally, totally outrageous. I was amazed at the intimidation and other on-field activities that were allowed to go on.

"Wayne Rooney was the most targeted player from that point of view. There could have been a very serious implication with the loss of a very, very important player at club and country level, to a very serious injury indeed.

Physical

"The physical part wasn't controlled and that made it difficult for England. At least one Andorra player, if not two, should have got the red card and that would have settled the game down a bit.

"They were allowed to continue getting away from it. If one of our players had done that to opposing players, people would be saying it was unacceptable and we had to get rid of him.

"But in the politically correct world we live in here, the Andorran players - because they are Andorran part-timers - are allowed to continue getting away with it."

Meanwhile Allardyce jumped to the defence of McClaren, who was subjected to constant barracking by the England fans which Allardyce believes will do nothing to boost the country's qualification hopes.

Allardyce added: "The criticism is very ferocious indeed but that is the world we live in and we all know it is coming our way if we don't get results. While we all think it's over the top, that's life.

"But the stick doesn't help the team play better. The expectations of playing at international level are far higher and at this particular time the players have found the pressure difficult to deal with.

"Ultimately the problem at the moment is that we are not producing the quality of finishing that the players can produce at club level. The sooner we put that right, I believe England will be a top, top force again."